Moistening attachment for type-writer ribbons.



J. C. PHELANGL H. BLMAcA LPINE. MOISTENINGATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITER RIBBONS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I3. 1917.

1,251,691. Patented Jan. 1, 1918..

IN VENTOR. J 6. P/ifl/JN ATTORNEYS.-

UNITED STATES IPA NT OFFICE.

JOHN G. PHELAN AND EERMANN B. MAOALPINE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MOISTENING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-ITER RIBBONS.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

ing used. The use of the invention is not confined to a typewriter, but it may be extended to any machine where a rlbbon is used, such as various forms of adding machines, recorders and the like.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the attachment applied in connection with a ribbon spool.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the attachment.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. I

ig. 4 is a detail in section showin a cap which may be placed on the device w en it is not desired to moisten the ribbon.

In the drawings, 1 indicates part of the frame of a typewriter, 2 is the platen roll, 4 are the ribbon spools and 5 the ribbon, and 6 indicates the attachment as a whole.

The attachment comprises a rectangular fluid container or casing 7 to one end of which is attached a bent spring clip 8 which slips over the side of the casing around one of the ribbon spools 4'.- A pin 9, having a sharp upper end 10, is attached to the bottom of the container 7 and projects upwardly through a hole 11 in the top thereof, \extending above the box or container and beside the ribbon spool. This pin forms a bearing-for the metal 0 linder 12 which slips over the same. The cy inder 12 which has a cap 13 at the top, and below the top is provided with four pins or oints 14 which project through a cylindrical wick which is sleeved over or is placed around the cylinder 12. The cylinder and wick extend t the hole 11 and dip into fluid which is placed in the container 7, the wick being saturated by the fluid.

rough The attachment or device is so located with respect to the ribbon roll that the ribbon travels across or against the wick 15 as the ribbon is fed back and forth in the operation of the machine. a

As the ribbon runs across the wick the points 14. will be engaged by the ribbon thereby rotating the wick and the sleeve 12. The fluid absorbed by the wick will be ap plied to the ribbon and will replenish and revive the same and consequentl enable a ribbon to be-used much longer t an would otherwise be possible.

When it is not desired to moisten a ribbon a cylindrical cover 16, as shown in Fig. 4,

'will be slipped overthe wick, and the ribbon willthen pass across the cover without coming in contact with the wick. By means of this device the life of the ribbon may be very greatly extended and the ribbon expense of a typewriter materially lessened. The device can be cheaply constructed and may be readily applied to various machines.

We clalm:

1. A ribbon moistening attachment comprisin a fluid box, and a vertical moistening roller he lower end of which dips into the box, and the upper end of which projects above the same for contact with thetribbon, said roller having projecting pins to engage the ribbon.

2. A ribbon moistening attachment comprising a fluid box having a hole in the top, a vertical pin projecting through said hole, a moistening roller mounted on the pin and extending through said hole and projecting above the box in position to contact with the ribbon, said roller having a cap bearing upon the top of the pin to support said roller for rotation.

3. A ribbon moistening attachment comprising a fluid box having a clip adapted to engage the casing of the ribbon spool, and a vertical moistening roller mounted in the box and projecting above the same in position to contact with a ribbon.

In testimony whereof, we do afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN o. PHELAN. HERMANN B. MAcALPINE.

Witnesses:

Jorm A.Bommnaam', G. V. Romance. 

